Obstetrical forceps



y 1956 E. M. GREENBERG 2,755,806

OBSTETRICAL FORCBPS Filed D80. 14, 1951 F'g 5 Q INVENTOR.

EMANUEL M. GREENBERG Uite States Patent *9 OBSTETRICAL FORCEPS Emanuel M. Greenberg, New York, N. Y. Application December 14, 1951, Serial No, 261,652 11 Claims. (Cl. 128323) This invention relates to improvements in obstetrical forceps.

In applicants copending application Serial Number 175,369, filed July 22, 1950, now Patent No. 2,637,32Q, granted May 5, 1953, improved forceps in four embod ments are described and illustrated. In each embodiment, the blades of the forceps are provided with inflatable coverings to minimize injury to mother and child during delivery. Subject application is concerned with a removable sterilizable resilient covering which may be used without inflation to cover the blades of the forceps.

It is an object of the instant invention to provide a resilient covering for removable attachment to the blades of any type of obstetrical forceps.

Another object is to apply to obstetrical forceps some of the benefits of the inflatable blades without the necessity for inflation.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of these objectives, a removable steriiizable resilient covering of foam rubber or the like is made in two embodiments for the blades. In the first embodiment, a bootie or mitten with open constricted neck is formed from resilient material such as foam rubher for slip fitting over each blade. The booties or mittens are made in various shapes and sizes to' fit all types of known forceps and may be of different thicknesses: to give the obstetrician a variety of implements with which to meet any particular problem. In the second embodiment, a portion of the rim or framework of each blade of the forceps is cut away to form a gap. A member removably inserted across the gap provides a means for slip fitting the end of a sterilizable resilient covering open at both ends around a portion of the blade with the gap open, the covering being drawn back over the member in the closed position of the gap and the remainder of the blade.

The invention will appear more clearly from. the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example the preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figures 15 show the first embodiment of the removable resilient covering or bootie or mitten for the blades of obstetrical forceps, the bootie being constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the bootie;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of the bootie shown in Figure I inserted over one of the two coacting blades of the obstetrical forceps;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the blade and bootie shown in Figure 3 in the process of being inserted over the blade with the hand; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but on a reduced scale and showing the use of an instrument in the attachment of the bootie.

Figure 6 shows the second embodiment of the resilient covering open at both ends and is a plan view of one blade with the resilient member or covering thereover partially broken away to show the construction of the blade.

Patented July 24, 1956 ice Figure 7 is a sectional view of the resilient covering or bootie or mitten of the first embodiment or the resilient covering of the second embodiment.

Referring now in greater detail to the first embodiment of the resilient covering or bootie as shown in Figures 1-5, reference numeral 10 indicates one of the two coacting blades of the obstetrical forceps, and 11 the resilient bootie or mitten removably fitted over the blade.

The blade 10 as illustrated is of the open framework type. However, the later described bootie or mitten 11 is just as readily adapted to the solid type blade.

The removable sterilizable bootie or mitten or sleeve or protector or covering 11 is constituted of a layer of resilient material 12 such as foam rubber. The layer of foam rubber may be of any desired thickness and contour and may be designed to be superposed only on the fetal surface of the blade or the maternal surface or around the thin edge or periphery connecting the fetal and maternal surfaces or the maternal surface together with the thin edge or the fetal surface together with the thin edge. In each case, however, there is a thin layer or skin of latex or the like around the outer surface of the rubber layer and forming therewith a pocket or covering with constricted open neck for the removable insertion of the blade. The thin layer or skin around the foam rubber prevents absorption of blood and vaginal discharge by the foam rubber, adds strength to the structure, and gives a substantially smooth surface which may be roughened on the fetal side to increase friction. If

the thin layer or skin is made from non-resilient material, the coverings for the opposite sides of the blades could be joined together with a bellows or accordion type of construction. The constricted neck may also have the integrally formed and outwardly directed projections 19 and 20 which permit opposite sides of the neck to be grasped with the thumb and index finger of each hand when stretching the neck apart for the insertion of the blade. The projections 19 and 29 may be corrugated to facilitate the grip. The physical characteristics of the resilient skin and foam rubber are such as to contract the constricted neck of the bootie or mitten around the shank of the blade with suificient force to prevent premature removal when the forceps are in use. Since, however, the resilient constricted neck requires a special instrument or manual dexterity in slipping the blade therethrough, an alternate method using a bootie with a non-constricted neck removably gathered around the shank of the blade with hooks and eyes, a slide fastener, snap clasps, a draw string, or the like could be used.

The booties are made of different shapes to fit different types of forceps. For example, there are separate booties for the Simpson and Elliott forceps while a bootie of different shape is required for the Piper forceps, the Kielland forceps, the Barton forceps, etc. The bootie illustrated is suitable for either the Simpson or Elliott type of forceps.

Inflation of the bootie is especially desirable where delivery must be made with forceps and any bootie can be readily adapted for inflation. For example, the free end of a detachable or fixed metal or flexible tube from a compressed air supply, described and illustrated in applicants previously mentioned copending application Serial No. 175,369, now Patent No. 2,637,320, granted May 5, 1953, may be introduced into the open neck of the bootie with the neck releasably sealed around the tube Without distortion and around the forceps. While in the aforementioned copending application, reference is made to substantially fixed tubes, the tubes may be removably attached to the forceps and/or fixed or removably attached to the bootie.

In operation:

The end of the blade is inserted in the open neck 14 of the bootie 11 by using one hand as shown in Figure 4 or by using both hands with or without the aid of the projections 19 and or by the use of the introducer 15 (Fig. 5). The introducer 15 is of known type and is constituted of two levers 16 and 17 pivotally attached at 18. By pressing the power arms of the, levers together, with the ends of the weight arms in the open neck 14, the constricted neck will be spread sufficiently for the introduction of the blade.

In the second embodiment of the resilient covering shown in Figure 6, the rim of the blade has a portion removed to leave a gap between the points and 31. While it has been assumed that the blade is hollow with but slight modification a solid blade could also be used. The gap is essential for the attachment of the later described resilient member or covering and the gap must also be closed after the attachment of the resilient member to provide the necessary strength for the blade.

To open and close the gap, a telescopic member 32 is reciprocally inserted in the open end of one portion of the framework. If desired, the telescopic member may be placed under outwardly directed tension by the spiral spring 33 so that when retrieved and free it will automatically close the gap.

The resilient covering is similar to the previously described bootie or mitten, that is it may be constituted of a resilient layer 12 to be inserted over the fetal side of the blade or over the fetal side and around .the periphery of the blade or over both the fetal and maternal sides and around the periphery. Also like the bootie, the resilient covering may have an outer skin or reinforcing layer 13 of resilient material. Unlike the bootie, however, the resilient covering is open at both ends to permit fitting around the blade as shown in the following paragraph.

In operation:

Suppose it be desired to equip the blade 34 with the resilient covering 35, the telescopic member 32 is retrieved into the hollow of the blade against the tension of the spring 33. One end of the resilient covering 35 is then expanded with the fingers or any suitable instrument and pushed around the blade until the inserted end 36 is against the shank of the blade (Fig. 6). The remaining portion of the covering is also pushed over the blade so that the telescopic member 32 when released will close the gap. Whereupon the end 37 of the resilient member can be readily worked back over the telescopic member and the remainder of the blade as shown in Figure 6 to provide a blade of suitable strength completely protected with the resilient covering. If desired, the resilient covering can be inflated by the addition of any suitable seals (not shown) and by the addition of means for introducing air under pressure between the framework and the resilient members.

While there are above disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure of the invention herein presented, it is possible to apply a cushioned surface on either the fetal or maternal or both surfaces or the thin edge connecting the surfaces of the blades of the forceps by the anode process of rubber deposition; by dipping or by dipping. Thus, other embodiments could be pro duced without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated therein, or required by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. An obstetrical forceps having two blades, a separate removable covering for each blade, the covering comprising at least one layer of resilient sterilizable material enclosing the blade, a layer of reinforcing sterilizable material disposed around at least a part of the resilient material, the reinforcing and resilient materials having an opening in at least one end for the removable insertion of the blade.

2. An obstetrical forceps having two blades, a separate removable bootie for each blade, the bootie comprising at least one layer of resilient sterilizable material enclosing the blade, a layer of reinforcing sterilizable material disposed around the resilient material, the resilient and reinforcing layers forming a pocket for the removable insertion of the blade, and means for removably securing the bootie to the blade.

3. An obstetrical forceps having two blades, a separate removable bootie for each of the two coacting blades, the bootie comprising a layer of foam rubber for the fetal side of the blade, a layer of flexible material disposed over the foam rubber and extended around the maternal side of the blade, and means for removably securing the bootie to the blade.

4. A removable bootie for each of the two coacting blades of obstetrical forceps, the bootie comprising a layer of foam rubber for the fetal side of the blade and extended at least around the periphery thereof, a layer of flexible material disposed over the outer surface of the foam rubber and extended around the maternal side of the blade, the neck of the bootie being open and constricted for the removable insertion of the blade, and two outwardly and oppositely directed projections disposed on the constricted neck of the layer of flexible material.

5. Obstetrical forceps in accordance with claim 3, wherein said blades have an open framework, each framework having a gap formed therein, and means for removably closing the gap, said layer of resilient sterilizable material being removably disposed around a portion of the framework with the gap open and removably disposed over the gap and the remainder of the framework with the gap closed.

6. Obstetrical forceps in accordance with claim 1, wherein said blades have an open framework, the framework of each blade having a gap formed therein, a telescopic member reciprocal in the blade at one end of the gap, and means for removably maintaining the telescopic member across the gap; said layer of resilient sterilizable material consisting of a layer of foam rubber for at least the fetal surface of each blade.

7. Obstetrical forceps according to claim 6 in which the foam rubber is extended over the fetal surface and the periphery of the blade.

8. Obstetrical forceps according to claim 6 in which the foam rubber is extended over both the fetal and maternal surfaces and the periphery of the blade.

9. Obstetrical forceps according to claim 6 in which the foam rubber is extended around the periphery of the blade.

10. Obstetrical forceps according to claim 6 in which the foam rubber is extended over the maternal surface of the blade.

11. Obstetrical forceps according to claim 6 in which the foam rubber is extended over the maternal surface and periphery of the blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,994,532 Ratzlatf Mar. 19, 1935 2,134,831 Moon Nov. 1, 1938 2,332,473 Salander Oct. 19, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS 508,960 Great Britain July 7, 1939 

